Written by Scotch Wichmann
 
"Bill Performing" cover illustration by concept artist Alex Madrigal
 
Published by Freakshow Books of Hollywood, California

 

For Steve "Tenafly" Taylor,
KayDee Kersten,
and all the performance artists John White made.
 
And for the organs you inspired in this work's guts: Nate Dryden, Clay Young, Gary San-Angel, Michael Mufson, Beth Stinson, Lee and Christy, Jude and Lindy, "Electric Shoes" Tim, Todd Ivers, "Honey Wall" Valerie, "Stilt Heels" Beth, Erin Feder, The Shrimps, Deborah Oliver, Jacki Apple, John Blough, William P. Fritz, The L.A. Live Art Forum, Randy Hostetler, Karen Finley, Tim Miller, John Fleck, Holly Hughes, Allan Kaprow, Jack Smith, Linda Frye Burnham, The Kipper Kids, Bob & Bob, Richard Layzell, Fluxus, Joseph Beuys, Bas Jan Ader, Rudolf Schwarzkogler, V. Vale, Bobcat Goldthwait, David Lynch, and Elaine May.
 
Special thanks to Rob La Frenais and Wink Van Kempen for their oral histories on the Amsterdam art scene.
 
And to my editors, K.D. Kersten and Charlie Wilson, for staring down the bull—thank you.